Future Trends Influencing Police - Essay Example

In the current era of advancing technology and rapid globalization, the major issues and factors that would be significantly impacting the policingduring the coming decade would be: the efficient use of technology; sensitivity towards multicultural society; and urgent need to be prepared for counter insurgency movement against any acts of violence within the society. The changing trend in the perspectives of social violence and need to be more empathetic towards the needs and requirements of multicultural society has become vital issue.

The police and policing therefore, need to become more aware of socio-cultural paradigms so that it can use its understanding of cross cultural values in policing. Technology has increasing become an indispensable tool in the contemporary times. The efficient use of technology within the operation of policing has greatly aided the police force to enforce law and order. Indeed, the use of technology has hugely facilitated the police to enhance its effectiveness in resolving crime and punishing the criminals with more authenticity.

The advancement made in forensic science and uses of sophisticated technology to investigate complicated criminal issues have shown that trends in technology would remain the major factors of influence within the police force. To efficiently handle the increasing numbers of cyber crimes have also made technology an intrinsic part of policing in the 21st century. Hedlund and McCartt (2002) of AAA Foundation of Traffic Safety, claim in their report that ‘drunk drivers continue to plague American highways.

They crash, they injure, and they kill. In 2000, 16,653 traffic fatalities — 40 percent of all highway deaths’. The drunk driving has today become a major road menace that needs to be tackled with more innovative approach. The punishment and financial fine have not been an effective deterrent for the offenders. The new age police must display use technology to ground the drivers and send them to reform institutes. The reform institutions could prove major deterrent for offenders primarily because of its social impact.

But most importantly, civil police are intrinsically linked to the maintenance of law and order in the civilian society during peacetime. Maintaining and controlling the civilian morale, their movements and behavior through people friendly actions is an extremely important part of effective policing. Their more serious roles and duties in the time of crisis, especially related to terrorism have become crucial in the current environment of increasing violence. The need to up gradation the skills and training schedules of the civil police has become vital ingredient.

It would greatly help them to effectively meet the challenges of the emerging situations which could require more stringent measures of control. The threats from terrorist outfits are the harsh realities of our time. I not only need advance preparation and strategy but also expedient use of sophisticated weaponry to counter threat to internal security. Reference Hedlund, James and McCartt, Ann. ‘Drunk Driving: Seeking Additional Solutions’. AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. May, 2002. Retrieved from: